Dilation of the ascending aorta

Both are excellent! If i had to choose today- i’d go to Cleveland. They have an easy and excellent 2nd opinion process- and the chair of the heart department specializes in complex aortic conditions. Since sinus of valsalva aneurysms are found in less that 1% of heart surgery patients- i think it important to find a surgeon and hospital that sees a lot of this. I’m curious if someone can point to the best place to get specific data on Mayo. Cleveland’s heart data is very easy to find- and I was actually able to meet with a surgeon there who has done many of these specific surgeries. I saw that Northwestern recently hired a surgeon from Cleveland that I think may have also done many of these. Personally, I think the specific surgeon’s experience is really important.

How is shortness of breath and dizziness connected to a root aneurysm? And ascending aorta aneurysm?

I went to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville last July 22nd for a second opinion. I had an ascending aortic aneurysm of 4.3 to 4.7 of the root. I was told by local cardiologist that everything was fine in Dec 23 and Jan 24 regarding LAD etc. However, I had several unexplained symptoms that were getting progressively worse by April. Those including shortness of breath, angina, ankle swelling, persistent dry cough. I thought it must be the aortic aneurysm hence the 2nd opinion. Turns out it was 4.7 ascending and 4.8 at the root, but wasn't what was causing the symptoms. Within hours Mayo doctors determined I had a complex coronary fistula from the RCA and LAD to pulmonary artery fistula with a nest of collaterals, a bronchial artery to pulmonary artery fistula as well as a large aneurysm on the RCA. One week after thatn during an angiogram with possible intervention, they found it was more extensive and found a 100% chronic occlusion of the LAD. All of that got fixed along with the ascending aorta, root and valve. The aortic stuff became emergent during surgery which lasted over 14 hours. Ironically, if it hadn't been for the ascending aortic and root aneurysm, I wouldn't have got the second opinion. The local cardiologist got called out and his excuse was that I had several rare things seen much less in 1 person. The cough was caused by the bronchial to Pulmonary artery fistula and the other stuff was essentially causing congenital heart failure even though my BP and heart rate didn't indicate it. So my point is, there can be other things in addition to an aortic aneurysm.

I went to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville last July 22nd for a second opinion. I had an ascending aortic aneurysm of 4.3 to 4.7 of the root. I was told by local cardiologist that everything was fine in Dec 23 and Jan 24 regarding LAD etc. However, I had several unexplained symptoms that were getting progressively worse by April. Those including shortness of breath, angina, ankle swelling, persistent dry cough. I thought it must be the aortic aneurysm hence the 2nd opinion. Turns out it was 4.7 ascending and 4.8 at the root, but wasn't what was causing the symptoms. Within hours Mayo doctors determined I had a complex coronary fistula from the RCA and LAD to pulmonary artery fistula with a nest of collaterals, a bronchial artery to pulmonary artery fistula as well as a large aneurysm on the RCA. One week after thatn during an angiogram with possible intervention, they found it was more extensive and found a 100% chronic occlusion of the LAD. All of that got fixed along with the ascending aorta, root and valve. The aortic stuff became emergent during surgery which lasted over 14 hours. Ironically, if it hadn't been for the ascending aortic and root aneurysm, I wouldn't have got the second opinion. The local cardiologist got called out and his excuse was that I had several rare things seen much less in 1 person. The cough was caused by the bronchial to Pulmonary artery fistula and the other stuff was essentially causing congenital heart failure even though my BP and heart rate didn't indicate it. So my point is, there can be other things in addition to an aortic aneurysm.

Both are excellent! If i had to choose today- i’d go to Cleveland. They have an easy and excellent 2nd opinion process- and the chair of the heart department specializes in complex aortic conditions. Since sinus of valsalva aneurysms are found in less that 1% of heart surgery patients- i think it important to find a surgeon and hospital that sees a lot of this. I’m curious if someone can point to the best place to get specific data on Mayo. Cleveland’s heart data is very easy to find- and I was actually able to meet with a surgeon there who has done many of these specific surgeries. I saw that Northwestern recently hired a surgeon from Cleveland that I think may have also done many of these. Personally, I think the specific surgeon’s experience is really important.

Has anyone used UVA Charlottesville or INOVA in northern Va or DC hospitals or John Hopkins ? I live too far from mayo or Cleveland

I, too, live in your area, but those hospitals you are asking about aren’t on the top ten list. They are great hospitals! However, I can’t find any info indicating ascending aortic aneurysm specialists. Post if you see updates info that indicates otherwise.